Transportation Firms Try New Tactics to Attract, Sign Recruits

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More than three-quarters of transportation industry firms plan to grow their workforce this year, but 69% say it’s a challenge to recruit qualified candidates, according to the 2018 Transportation Spotlight report taken from the annual employment screening survey from HireRight.

Referrals are used to find candidates by 73% of firms, but 54% said they were using social networking to find talent, up from 42% just a year ago. In contrast, 38% of firms in 2018 are using print media to recruit, down from 57% in 2015.

Firms are exploring other tactics to attract and sign up recruits. Nearly a third offer mobile-friendly applications as part of the screening process, 37% are implementing flexible work arrangements, 54% are doing more follow-up communication, 53% hold driver appreciation events and 42% are raising pay.

Employee retention is an issue according to 54% of the professionals as staff leave to find greener pastures. More money was the reason 52% left, while 41% wanted to spend more time at home and 27% sought better benefits.

To better retain new talent, 38% said they are introducing the hires to company executives, 32% are implementing longer orientation and training periods and 28% are appointing driver liaisons or mentors.

“The transportation industry is embracing innovative strategies to recruit new talent and is truly listening to what candidates want from application to onboarding, including benefits,” said Kent Ferguson, director of transportation solutions at HireRight.

HireRight’s annual employment benchmark findings are from a survey of 5,886 U.S.-based professionals in employment screening and recruiting. Of those, 18% said their primary industry was transportation, and those results were used in the transportation spotlight.

HireRight works with more than 9,500 transportation companies, providing employment services including background checks, and drug and workforce screening.